Conflict & Security
Indian ship sinks in Red Sea; Yemen blames Houthis
An Indian-flagged commercial ship sank in the Red Sea off Yemen on Tuesday after an attack, and all 14 crew members were rescued, a local official in the Yemeni city of Mokha said.
Yemen's internationally recognised government blamed the Iran-backed Houthi rebels for the attack, according to the official Saba news agency.
The Mokha official said the MSV Faize Noore Oliya came under attack south of the port city of Hodeida. The crew comprised 13 Indian nationals and one Yemeni.
Indian Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on X that the vessel was “hit by a projectile near Yemeni waters” and added that India “strongly condemns this unprovoked attack.”
“The targeting of commercial shipping in the region must end,” Indian foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said.
Last month, the Houthis declared a Red Sea maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia and have since claimed several attacks on oil tankers and infrastructure. Saudi Arabia has used its Red Sea port of Yanbu to maintain shipments to global markets by bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran's blockade has increased the importance of Red Sea shipping lanes.
Update
Yemen's internationally recognised government blamed the Iran-backed Houthi rebels for the attack, according to the official Saba news agency.
India condemned what its shipping minister called an unprovoked attack.
India's foreign ministry spokesman said the targeting of commercial shipping in the region must end.
The item adds context that the Houthis declared a Red Sea maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia last month and have claimed several attacks on oil tankers and infrastructure.
Source note: AFP news report published on 4 August 2026 at 18:39:51 UTC.
Update
Coast guards rescued all crew members from the Indian-flagged Faize Noore Oliya.
The crew comprised 13 Indian nationals and one Yemeni.
Indian Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the vessel was hit by a projectile near Yemeni waters.
Source note: AFP news report published on 4 August 2026 at 18:08:56 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The identity of the attackers has not been independently established in the supplied information.
The type and origin of the projectile reported by India's shipping minister were not established.
The detailed timing of the attack and sinking was not supplied.
Source
AFP news report published on .